North Kohala Community Development Plan Advisory Group
Meeting of July 7, 2025. Kohala Senior Center.
Minutes by Sadie Young
Call to order at 4:33 pm. In attendance from AG committee: Jack Hoyt, Boyd Bond, John Winter, Sadie Young
10 in attendance from the community.
June Meeting minutes approved
SubGroup meeting reports:
Affordable Housing:
See agenda for summary.
Interest shown at Kohala Reunion, 40 people filled out survey.
Meeting date is past when KMN comes out. Other options?
Agriculture:
See agenda for summary.
Meeting cancelled last month, didn’t recruit enough help to man the Reunion table.
Community Access:
See agenda for summary.
Toni combined reports for CA and GM.
Next meeting August 5th, 4:40 pm Senior Center.
Growth Management.:
See agenda for summary.
PONC staffing problems causing delays in land acquisition process.
Can download Rails to Trails map.
Hawaii Island retreat submitted final map draft, presented to group and meets needs of group. Letter to approve to Planning Dept.
Health and Wellness:
See agenda for summary.
Did not meet in June.
Kohala Culture & History AG
Amazing job with talk story table.
Next meeting July 8th, 10am, location may be Hawaii Island Retreat, not yet confirmed.
Parks, Roads Erosion Control and View-planes (PREV):
See agenda for summary.
Hawi School Intersection. Safety issue, need walk lane for students along fence by school garden and kindergarten playground fence away from highway. There is room for a right turn and merge lane to help reduce traffic congestion.
Tree Removal by new playground, need windbreak. Check with Resource Center, need tree donation, planting, maintenance.
Next meeting July 16th, 5pm, Senior Center.
Utilities:
See agenda for summary.
Windmill battery project: Cost? Richard Horn of the wind farm invited to next meeting to discuss possible location and infrastructure there. RFP on docket. PUC grant says location Hawi Substation. Windfarm may be better location.
Beers Road waterline-From the 1950’s, 21 line ruptures the past 9 yrs. DWS released an RFP to replace the line.
Next meeting July 16, 3”30pm, at the Wind Farm
New Business, Announcements:
James Hustace and group discussion:
Council will begin General Plan meetings starting this Wednesday at 5pm. Two meetings scheduled monthly for the next 6 months, open to the public.
James met with Sarah Pule Fujii and walked down Pratt rd from Niulii for Emergency Access. Many owners, upkeep will be needed to keep Pratt clear for alternate traffic route in emergency situations. Perhaps community work days or owner fines for noncompliance. Pratt Road as emergency bypass. Important to maintain Pratt is suitable condition. Traffic diversion can be quick, but Pratt must be in suitable condition, which takes time. CERT offered to assist police dept with advising local traffic only at gates on Pratt. Trial runs needed. Police can cut chains if locked when access needed. Liability issue resolved. Capt. can declare emergency so not a liability to owners.
Down Pratt from Kapanaia there are over 100 abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, two nearly full (abandoned?) dumpsters.
Union Mill rd neglected, in terrible condition, TMK shows no ownership. Can County take over? James to follow up.
Lt. Governor was at reunion. Small State-owned parcel at park past softball field in disrepair and dangerous. Buildings collapsed. Houseless person seen living at the area.
There are plans to harden the gym as it is the emergency facility for the community. No handrails on bleachers. During a recent big storm, the gate was padlocked, no access.
$5 million reappropriated to rebuild the pool. Lifeguard shortage, some coming from Honoka’a. Regular training program needed. Recently had Jr. lifeguard program.
James can attend every other meeting due to other commitment. John requested he submit a report when not available to be read at AG meetings.
Hope presented Laulima Survey info with QR code.
Carter invited members to join at the wind farm meeting on 16th 3:30.
Use KNKR to promote an evening Utility meeting on electrical power and invite officials to attend.
Adjourned at 5:33 pm
Next meeting: 4:30pm, August 4th Senior Center